Green Synthesis of Copper Nanoparticles ‎using Aqueous Extract of Yerba Mate (llex ‎Paraguarients St. Hill) and its Anticancer ‎Activity

Nanotoxicology is a major field of study that exposes dangerous effects of nanomaterials on the living cells. In the present study, an extract of llex paraguarients St. Hill in distill water was firstly prepared. This extract was added to 1 mM of Cupric sulfate solution, and the change in the color of the solution from colorless to colored solution was detected. This change in color indicates that there is a formation of CuNPs. Secondly, Copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) were prepared by the chemical reduction method and characterized by the utility of different techniques such as: UV-Vis spectrometer, FTIR spectroscopy and SEM with EDAX. The evaluation of the toxicity of CuNPs was performed on human lung carcinoma cell (A549). The half-maximal inhibitory concentration IC50 of CuNPs for human lung carcinoma cell (A549) was determined. CuNPs suppressed proliferation and viability of carcinoma lung cells. Overall, the results show that the IC50's of the prepared Cu NPs were cytotoxic to cancerous lung cells.